Tailpiece for stringed instruments



July 9, 1963 M. HAVlVl ETAL I 3,096,575

TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 1, 1961 INVENTORS M054 M4V/ V/ MAX FP/RSZ A TTORIVEYS United States Patent 3,096,676 TAILPIECEFOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Mosa Havivi and Max Frirsz, New York, NY. FiledFeb. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 86,407 10 Claims. (Cl. 84302) The presentinvention relates to improvements in the sound of musical instrumentsand more particularly to a structure adapted for use in violins, Violas,cellos, and bass violins and the like.

In the construction of violins and the like, it has been, ior a greatmany years, known that excellent and expert craftsmanship is necessaryin order to give the instrument rich, clear tones. Various constructionsof such instruments have contributed to a high quality of sound producedby the instrument. However, there is always room for improvement and thepresent invention is directed to an improvement in the tailpiece of theinstrument.

-It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a stringedmusical instrument having :a novel construction of tailpiece, adapted toprovide greater resonance and to improve the tone quality and quantityof the instrument.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide astructure of tailpiece such as to provide a balance of pressure betweenthe high notes and the low notes thereof.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide atailpiece wherein there is an adjustable portion for the low strings sothat the quality and quantity of sound produced thereby may be adjustedby the musician.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided a tailpiece whichis made of wood, plastic or metal. The tailpiece is relatively narrowand relatively long, having a bulge on one side thereof at about thecentral area. There are provided anchoring openings for the strings; atthe front end of the tailpiece are openings for anchoring the highstrings, and at the bulge there are provided openings for anchoring thetwo low strings. An important feature of the invention is the angle ofthe bulge, which is curved so that the tip or edge thereof issubstantially below the plane of the major portion of the tailpiece.

In another feature of the invention, the angle of the bulge is madeadjustable. To accomplish this, the bulge is constructed of a separatepiece of wood, plastic or metal, and a mechanism is provided whereby itis hinged to the tailpiece with means for varying or adjusting theposition of the bulge relative to the tailpiece.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, in which likereference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tailpiece made in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end elevational view thereof taken in the direction ofline 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear of thetailpiece taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a modified form of tailpiece wherein thebulge is made adjustable;

FIG. 5 is a transverse view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 of a further modification ofthe invention.

The body 1 of the tailpiece is relatively narrow and elongated, having aslight concave curve 2 along one edge thereof. The rear 3 has a pair ofopenings 4 and a flat lower surface 5. Openings 4 serve as a means forthe introduction of a mechanism for holding the tailpiece onto theinstrument.

The front 6 of the tailpiece has the side opposite edge 2 7 in a convexcurve 7 and a metal or other strip 8 raised above the surface of thetailpiece serves as 'a rest for the "ice strings. Openings 9 and 10 areprovided for anchoring the high note strings and they are spacedapproximately parallel to curve 7 so that opening 10 is substantiallyrearwardly of opening 9.

'Near the central portion of the tailpiece, curve 7 blends into concavecurve 11 which with convex curve 12 form a bulge extending in theopposite direction from edge 2. A raised metal piece 13 provides supportfor the low notes. Adjacent to piece 13 are openings 14 and 15 foranchoring said low note strings. These openings are parallel tocurvf41-1 and opening 15 is located rearward-1y of opening.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a separate piece 16 isfitted into a right angular notch or recess 16' in the side of thetailpiece opposite edge 2. A hinge 17 is secured to tailpiece 1 andbulge 16. An adjusting screw 18 passes through eye 19 secured totailpiece lat 19. A thumb nut 20 is threaded on screw 18. The oppositeend 22 of the screw is held in eye 21 anchored to bulge 16 at 21'. Bymeans of thumb nut 20, the position of bulge 16 relative to tailpiece 41may be adjusted so that it may be raised or lowered to vary the tensionon the strings and create a balance between the low strings and the highstrings.

The correlation of the musical vibrations between the bridge andtailpiece with the vibrations of the strings in front of the bridge, isof importance. IT he angle of bulge 16 permits the artist to increasethe pressure on the low note strings and thus balances such pressurerelative to the high note strings.

Each instrument has its own sensitivity, character and individualtimbre. By application of the adjustable bulge, the musician can adjustthe pressure to a more perfect and precise balance.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that edge12. of the bulge is in the same plane as the fiat surface 5 at the rearof the tailpiece. It is also to be noted that the front 6 of thetailpiece as shown particularly in FIG. 2, is substantially higher thanbulge 12. Thereby there is a downward angle formed by the bulge, whichresults in improved resonance and over-tones of all the notes. The anglemay be as great as about to the plane of the tailpiece.

In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the tailpiece is formed with anedge 23 which is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis 23' of thetailpiece. The angle 24 is usually about 30 and in no case should it begreater than 45 although an angle of as little as 15 is suitable. Inthis modification, similar results are obtained to those from that shownin FIG. 1. The difference is that instead of curves 7, 11 and :12, thereis provided a straight edge 23.

We claim:

1. A tailpiece for string instruments comprising an elongated bodyhaving means at the rear thereof for attachment to said instrument,means at the front of said body for anchoring of at least one frontstring, and means at an intermediate area for anchoring of at least oneintermediate string, the :front anchoring means being for high notes andthe intermediate anchoring means for low notes, a flat lower surface onsaid body, a convex bulge rising from said flat surface at saidintermediate area and extending towards the front of said body.

2. A tailpiece according to claim 1 characterized in that a lateral edgeof said body is slightly concave.

3. A tailpiece according to claim 1 characterized in that said anchoringmeans are in substantial alinement at an angle to the longitudinal axisof said body of not over about 45.

4. A tailpiece according to claim 1 characterized in that said anchoringmeans are in substantial alinement at an 5. A tailpiece according toclaim 1 characterized in that said bulge slopes downwardly from theupper face of said body.

6. A tailpiece according to claim '1 characterized in that the angle ofsaid bulge relative to said body is adjustable.

7. A tailpiece according to claim 1 characterized in that said bu lzgeis hinged to said body and means are provided for adjusting the slope ofsaid bulge.

8. A tailpiece according to claim 1 characterized in that said rear hasa flat under-face, and the free edge of said intermediate area is in theplane thereof.

9. A tailpiece according to claim 1 characterized in that said rear hasa flat under-face, and the free edge of said intermediate area is in theplane thereof, and the front of said body is substantially above theupper face of the rear of said body.

10. A tailpiece according to claim 7 characterized in that saidadjusting means includes a threaded member connecting said bulge andsaid body and a thumb nut on said threaded member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,588,238 Hogne Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 196,532, Great Britain Apr.26, 1923 OTHER REFERENCES Portland Daily Abstract received in Div. 5,Feb. 15,

1. A TAILPIECE FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODYHAVING MEANS AT THE REAR THEREOF FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID INSTRUMENT,MEANS AT THE FRONT OF SAID BODY FOR ANCHORING OF AT LEAST ONE FRONTSTRING, AND MEANS AT AN INTERMEDIATE AREA FOR ANCHORING OF AT LEAST ONEINTERMEDIATE STRING, THE FRONT ANCHORING MEANS BEING FOR HIGH